Telecommunication network

ABSTRACT

A method of communicating a telecommunication request initiated by a subscriber in a telecommunication network. The method according to an embodiment includes: receiving a request for a voice or data communication by a radio access network; and communicating the received request to a network switching subsystem for processing by a demand-driven, dynamically-configurable IP based computing infrastructure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S.application Ser. No. 12/582,756, titled “Telecommunication Network,”which was filed on Oct. 21, 2009, and which is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of telecommunication systems. Inparticular, the invention relates to a telecommunications systemoperable in a distributed on-demand computing environment.

RELATED ART

Mobile telecommunication networks have seen advances in the bandwidthcapabilities that they are able to provide through improved spectralefficiency. With the introduction of Third Generation (3G) mobilenetworks, network operators are able to offer a wider range of serviceswhile being able to take advantage of greater network capacity. Aselection of these services includes telephony applications, videocalling, and broadband wireless data services.

In an IP network environment service providers are also seeing a shiftin the services that they are able to provide to users. These servicesinclude social networking applications, playback of television programsoffered by a television network company, and applications where musiccan be bought and downloaded.

The characteristics of these services are very different from theirpredecessors. For example, these services require greater bandwidth,greater storage, and greater latency. Further, their growth rates aredifferent because new services appear and disappear very quickly and newservices have what is termed ‘flash traffic’ (e.g., new services haveinstantaneous popularity and thus service providers are challenged withamong other things bandwidth issues).

Thus, there is a challenge faced by mobile telecommunication providersin how to provide these IP based services in a telecommunicationenvironment while maintaining adequate bandwidth requirements in orderto provide requested services from subscribers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention is directed to atelecommunication network comprising: a radio access network; and anetwork switching subsystem for communicating with the radio accessnetwork and with a demand-driven, dynamically-configurable IP basedcomputing infrastructure.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein a base station controller function is associated with thenetwork switching subsystem for processing communication requests fromsubscribers.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the IP based computing infrastructure is a high bandwidth andhigh availability network

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the network switching subsystem comprises a plurality ofprocessing nodes, each processing node comprising an instance of anetwork switching function.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the network switching function comprises an instance of a callsession control function, a radio control function, and a homesubscriber service database for processing requests for communicationservices from subscribers.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein a processing node further comprises a high availabilitycomponent for monitoring the operating parameters of a processing node.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the high availability component further comprises an in-memorymap of the telecommunication network comprising the operational statusof each processing node associated with the telecommunication network.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the high availability component detects a failure of aprocessing node and in response to the detection of a failed processingnode locates an alternative processing node as a substitute for thedetected failed processing node.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the high availability component is operable for implementing arecovery failure plan in the event that a processing node is detected asno longer being operational.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the recovery plan comprises having a plurality of processingnodes in a standby mode which are accessible via the IP based networksuch that in the event that a processing node is detected as being nolonger operational one of the plurality of processing nodes is able toperform the functions of the failed processing node.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the high availability component further comprises analyzinggeographical information associated with subscriber requests forresources and network traffic information associated with a processingnode to determine whether additional processing resource is required bya processing node or whether a processing node can be powered downbecause of a minimal amount of network traffic being detected.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein the telecommunication network is a third generation network.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein a request is received from a subscriber's mobile phone foraccessing an IP based resource associated with a third party IP basednetwork, wherein a request in the form or one or more IP packets istransmitted from the mobile phone device through a base transceiverstation to an IP based network of a service provider who is hosting therequested resource.

The present invention further comprises a telecommunication networkwherein if the request for a resource further comprises requests fortelecommunication specific services a request is instantiated through anAPI of the service provider's IP based network in order to communicate arequest to a call session control function in the telecommunicationnetwork.

Viewed from a second aspect, the present invention is directed to amethod of communicating a telecommunication request initiated by asubscriber in a telecommunication network comprising: receiving arequest for a voice or data communication by a radio access network; andcommunicating the received request to a network switching subsystem forprocessing by a demand-driven, dynamically-configurable IP basedcomputing infrastructure.

Viewed from a third aspect, the present invention is directed to acomputer program product loadable into the internal memory of a digitalcomputer, comprising software code portions for performing, when thecomputer program product is run on a computer, the invention asdescribed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexamples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram detailing the components of a prior art GSMtelecommunication network.

FIG. 2 is sequence chart showing the interaction between a caller and areceiver in a prior art GSM network.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram detailing applications and services operablein an IP based network.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a telecommunication network operable in adistributed data processing network in which the present invention maybe embodied.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a telecommunicationnetwork operable in a distributed data processing network in which thepresent invention may be embodied.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of the operational steps of a call beinginitiated in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram detailing a processing node in which an aspectof the present invention may be embodied.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram detailing the components of the highavailability component in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a computer apparatus in which an aspect of the presentinvention may be embodied in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 details a known GSM telecommunication network 100. GSM is acellular network which allows a voice or data communication initiatedfrom a mobile phone to use a cell 130 in the mobile phone's immediatevicinity. A GSM telecommunication network 100 allows subscribers to roamand switch between network operators and to take advantage of servicessuch as voice calling and SMS etc.

The components of the GSM telecommunication network 100 are explained inorder to place the invention in context.

The GSM telecommunication network 100 comprises a network switchingsubsystem 105 and a radio access network subsystem 110. The networkswitching subsystem 105 and radio access network subsystem 110 worktogether in order to process telecommunication requests from subscribersto receivers.

The radio access network subsystem 110 is responsible for processingnetwork traffic between a mobile phone and the network switchingsubsystem 105. The radio access network subsystem 110 performs suchfunctions as transcoding of speech channels, allocation of radiochannels to mobile phones, paging, quality management of transmission,etc.

The radio access network subsystem 110 comprises a number of cells 130.Each cell 130 comprises equipment that is responsible for enablingwireless communication between mobiles phones (and like equipment) viathe GSM telecommunication network 100. Each cell 130 is responsible fora geographical area of coverage and comprises a base transceiver station(BTS) 135 for receiving and transmitting radio signals and means forencrypting and decrypting radio communications received by andtransmitted to and by a mobile phone, etc.

A cell 130 is associated with a base station controller (BSC) 120. Thebase station controller (BSC) 120 receives data from a base transceiverstation (BTS) 135 and is responsible for control functions and physicallinks between the network switching subsystem 105 and the basetransceiver station (BTS) 135. The base station controller (BSC) 120provides the functionality of a high capacity switch that providesfunctions such as communication handover, cell configuration, and thecontrol of radio frequency power levels in the base transceiver stations(BTS) 135. The base transceiver station (BTS) 135 is operable forcommunication with the network switching subsystem 105.

The network switching subsystem 105 is responsible for the functions ofswitching and managing communications between mobile phones and thepublic switched telephone network (PSTN). The network switchingsubsystem 105 comprises core components such as a mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 125, a communication network 115, and a home locationregister (HLR) 105. The mobile switching center (MSC) 125 is responsiblefor processing voice calls, SMS, multi-party calls, facsimiletransmissions, etc. The mobile switching center (MSC) 125 is alsoresponsible for setting up and releasing a communication connectionbetween a subscriber and a receiver, hand-over requirements from onecell 130 to another cell 130 as a subscriber roams through one cell 130to another cell 130, and business functionality such as call monitoringin order to determine call charging. etc.

The home location register (HLR) is a database comprising informationsuch as the mobile phone number of a subscriber, information associatedwith a subscriber's SIM card, services that a subscriber has subscribedto, a current cell location of the subscriber, etc.

A person skilled in the art will realize that there are many otheraspects to a GSM telecommunication network 100, and that the abovedescription is only intended to be an introduction to the maincomponents of a GSM telecommunication network 100.

With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen how each of the componentswithin the networking switching subsystem 105 and the radio accessnetwork subsystem operate 110 when a call has been initiated by asubscriber (Alice) and to a receiver (Bob).

The subscriber (Alice) 200 initiates a call to receiver (Bob) 230 viaher mobile phone or other telecommunication device. The base transceiverstation (BTS) 205 detects a request for a communication request to thereceiver (Bob) 230. Call identification information is passed from thebase transceiver station (BTS) 205 to the base station controller (BSC)210 and then onto the appropriate mobile switching center (MSC1) 215.

The mobile switching center (MSC1) 215 transmits data indicative of theidentity of the mobile phone via a set of network switches to a homelocation register (HLR) 220, which scans data in its database to verifythe subscriber's (Alice) 200 authority to access the requestedcommunication services.

Upon verifying the authorization of the subscriber (Alice) 200 to obtainthe requested communication services, the home location register (HLR)220 transmits control data to the local mobile switching center (MSC1)215 which then processes information such as the origin of the requestedcall, etc., and transmits the call information to a mobile switchingcenter (MSC2) 225 which is local to the receiver (Bob) 230 to allow thereceiver (Bob) 230 to receive the voice communication. In the abovescenario the BTS 205, BSC 210, MSC 215, and HLR 220 are implemented in adistinct hardware platform running unique software. The implementationof a mobile network for a country the size of the UK, for example,requires tens of thousands of cells 130 and tens of thousands ofcorresponding base station controllers (BTS) 205 as well as hundreds ofmobile switching centers (MSC) 215—which in turn will require hundredsof thousands of processing nodes.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified diagram of a cloud computing environment inwhich a number of IP based applications 310 are running on a number ofprocessing nodes 305 accessible via an IP based network. In this contextthe term IP mean an internet protocol based network. A processing node305 is a server or other computing device which is operable forreceiving requests from requesting client devices and fulfilling thoserequests over an IP based network 300, 315.

The term cloud computing is used as a term to describe a complex ITinfrastructure in which services are accessible through the ITinfrastructure. A cloud computing infrastructure typically requires aplurality of computing devices 305, a plurality of data centers 305, anetwork 300, 315 with suitable bandwidth capabilities, and aconsiderable power resource and suitable server cooling means. Serviceproviders host technology enabled services from the internet, oftenwithout knowledge or control of the infrastructure that supports theservices. An example of this is when a user access a services such as aphotograph editing, storage and retrieval service via their web browseracross the internet. More and more business applications are being madeavailable so that a user can access these applications via their webbrowser across the internet. A characteristic of the network 300, 315 isits high bandwidth and high availability capability which is able toprocess requests for application resources in a demand driven fashion,i.e., a resource is allocated when it is requested.

Some service providers may ‘own’ the infrastructure themselves. Forexample the cloud 300 may be owned by a service provider ‘A’ with anumber of applications 310 running on processing nodes 305 usingstandard compute and storage virtualization technologies. Thus oneapplication may be virtualized across a number of processing nodes 305or the application may run one processing node only 305. Some processingnodes 305 may act as storage devices. One high speed/high availabilitynetwork is operable with other high speed/high availability networks.For example, application ‘A’ may be accessible via network 300 butassociated storage requirements may be accessible via network 315 ownedby service provide ‘B’. A cloud application can be defined as anapplication that is accessible over a network 300, 315 without the needfor the installation and running of the application on a clientcomputer. This eliminates the need for software maintenance, support,upgrades, etc., on behalf on of the client computer.

In order for a telecommunication service provider to take advantage ofthe benefits provided by a cloud computing environment a newtelecommunication network topology is proposed with a mechanism in whichto provide high availability services and recovery mechanisms.

This is shown in FIG. 4. In this example, the radio access networksubsystem 110 is connectable to a cloud computing infrastructure 415which performs a subset of the functions of the radio access networksubsystem 110 as well as the function of the network switching subsystem105.

The radio access network subsystem 110 comprises a plurality of cells130 each cell 130 providing a geographical coverage area. Associatedwith each cell 130 is a base transceiver station (BTS) 135 and a basestation controller (BSC) 120.

The base station controller (BSC) 120 is modified in order tocommunicate across an IP network to a call session control function(CSCF) 400 in the network switching subsystem 105 in a cloud computingenvironment. The modification comprises embedding knowledge of whichinstance of a call session control function 400 to send thecommunication request and signaling information too. Each processingnode 405 comprise an instance of a call session control function (CSCF)400 for communication with and receiving requests from the radio accessnetwork subsystem 110.

If a subscriber accesses a purely IP-based service such as a socialnetworking application from a mobile device, a service request in theform of one or more IP packets (e.g., using HTTP/HTTPS) is sent from thesubscriber's mobile device though a base transceiver station (BTS) andis then sent to an IP network instead of being routed to an instance ofa call session control function (CSCF).

The service request is then sent from a first service provider's IPbased network to the (second) service provider's IP network that hoststhe requested service through an interconnection, which may be thepublic internet. The service request is processed in a service instanceimplemented in a web server or application server in the second serviceprovider's network.

If the requested service then requires access to the telecommunicationservice provider's network to send an SMS or to initiate a conferencecall or for other purposes a request for access is carried out throughan API which is instantiated in a third party gateway or ServiceDelivery Platform (SDP) in the telecommunication provider's network.

A first IP network 300 is operable for communication with a plurality ofprocessing nodes 405. Each processing node 405 comprises hardware (forexample, storage, processors, motherboard, etc.), an operating systemfor providing the low level management of the hardware and softwareoperable with the processing node 405, and a management layer such as ahypervisor for running and managing a plurality of virtual machines on aprocessing node 405. Running on each virtual machine is an instance of acall session control function (CSCF) 400 (a mobile switching function ina 2G network). Thus a situation may arise wherein a processing node 405comprises a plurality of virtual machines and each virtual machine maycomprise an instance of a call session control function (CSCF) 400. Eachof these instances is implemented in software. An instance in thiscontext is a term used for a an application being launched multipletimes or operable on multiple processing nodes.

An instance of a home subscriber service (HSS) 410 is operable forrunning on a processing node 405. A home subscriber service is adatabase comprising a subscriber's phone number, subscription serviceinformation, SIM card information, subscriber physical locationinformation and also performs such functions as authentication andauthorization of each subscriber.

A base transceiver station (BTS) of FIGS. 4 and 5 may also be embodiedas part of the network switching subsystem 105.

With reference to FIG. 5, the network switching subsystem 105 comprisesa first IP network 300 operable with a second IP network 315, whereinthe at least first IP network comprises characteristics of a cloudcomputing infrastructure.

The first IP network 300 is operable for communication with a pluralityof processing nodes 405. Each processing node 405 comprises hardware,for example, storage, processors, motherboard, etc., an operating systemfor providing low level management of the hardware and software operablewith the processing node 405 and a management layer such as a hypervisorfor running and managing a plurality of virtual machines on a processingnode 405. Running on each virtual machine is an instance of a callsession control function (CSCF) 400 (a mobile switching function in a 2Gnetwork) and an instance of a radio network control function (RNCF).Thus a situation can arise wherein a processing node 405 comprises aplurality of virtual machines and each virtual machine may comprise acall session control function (CSCF) 400 and a radio network controlfunction (RNCF) 500. These functions and instances thereof areimplemented in software.

The call session control function (CSCF) 400 is responsible forperforming signaling operation for call session control. The callsession control function (CSCF) 400 establishes, monitors, supports, andreleases multimedia sessions and manages the subscriber's serviceinteractions. The call session control (CSCF) 400 function also invokesprocessing nodes 405 related to the subscriber's requested services.

A home subscriber service (HSS) instance 410 is a database comprising asubscriber's phone number, subscription service information, SIM cardinformation, subscriber physical location information and also performssuch functions as authentication and authorization of each subscriber.

A radio signal received from the antenna or antennas of the basestation, in the radio access network) is converted to digital form andtransmitted over a network 315, 300 to an instance of a radio networkcontrol function which is implemented within the cloud computinginfrastructure. After processing, any radio signals for transmission aregenerated by the radio network control function within the cloudcomputing infrastructure and are transmitted over a network 315, 300 tothe antenna or antennas, in an appropriate cell, where the radio signalsare converted from digital form to the form required for transmission.

Thus, once the components as depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 4 orFIG. 5 are operational within the first IP network (the Cloud) it ispossible to allocate and process resources from all associated IPnetworks 300, 315. It is not necessary to provide dedicated backupprocessing units for every base transceiver station. In the event offailure a new processing node is allocated from a processing node thatis associated with the first or second IP network 300, 315. This alsoapplies to the service switching layer which is comprised of all thecall session control function (CSCF) instances and home subscriberservices (HSS) instances.

In prior art GSM networks the base transceiver station isenvironmentally hostile (e.g., located outdoors) and so processing nodesassociated with radio base stations are more expensive than thoselocated in a data center. The same cloud infrastructure provides theprocessing resources for higher level system such as service switchingincluding connection management for voice and data connections,operational support system to support provisioning subscriber managementservice management and fault management for services such as socialnetworking applications and music on-demand services, etc.

FIG. 6 details the sequence steps of a subscriber (Alice) initiating avoice call to a receiver (Bob) of an embodiment of FIG. 4.

A subscriber (Alice) 600 initiates a call to receiver (Bob) 630 via hermobile phone or other telecommunication device. The base transceiverstation (BTS) 605 detects a request for a communication request to thereceiver (Bob) 630. Call identification information is passed from thebase transceiver station (BTS) 605 to the base station controller (BSC)610 and then onto the appropriate call session control function (CSCF)instance 615.

The call session control function (CSCF) instance 615 transmits dataindicative of the identity of the mobile phone via a set of networkswitches to a home subscriber service (HSS) 620, which scans data in itsdatabase to verify the subscriber's (Alice) 600 authority to access therequested communication services.

Upon verifying the authorization of the subscriber (Alice) 600 to obtainthe requested communication services, the home subscriber service (HSS)620 transmits control data to the local call session control function(CSCF) instance 615 which then processes information such as the originof the requested call, etc. and transmits the call information to a callsession control function (CSCF) instance 625 which is local to thereceiver (Bob) 630 to allow the receiver (Bob) 630 to receive the voicecommunication. In the above scenario the BTS 605, BSC 610, CSFC 615, 625and HSS 620 are implemented in software.

Turning to FIG. 7 a processing node 405 is shown. Typically atelecommunication processing node 405 comprises the following: componenthardware 725 (such as processors, motherboard, storage, etc.), anoperating system 720 for providing low level management of the hardwareand software operable with the processing node, and a management layer715 such as a hypervisor for running and managing a plurality of virtualmachines on a processing node. Running on each virtual machine is aswitching function 710 which comprises an instance of a call sessioncontrol function (CSCF) (a mobile switching function in a 2G network)(an instance thereof) and an instanced of a radio network controlfunction (RNCF).

The processing node 405 further comprises a provisioning component 700for provisioning requests from subscribers to join the telecommunicationnetwork (task such as, SIM registering) and a high availabilitycomponent for detecting when a processing node has failed and fordetermining a new processing node to take the place of the failedproceeding node.

To be clear—a failed processing node 405 is a node which is determinedas no longer functioning satisfactorily because of a hardware failure, asoftware failure at the operating system level or management layer, asoftware fault in a virtual machine operating on the processing node orthe network connection to that processing node failing and thus no otherprocessing node on other network being able to communicate with theprocessing node.

The components of the high availability component are shown withreference to FIG. 8.

The high availability component 705 comprises an operational model 810of the telecommunication's cloud network topology including anyassociated networks and any associated processing nodes 405.

The model 810 is derived from network administrator entered data aboutwhich processing nodes are associated with the network, the resourcesavailable on the processing node for example, the number of virtualmachine operating on a processing node, the telecomm specific functionsare available on a virtual machine (CSCF and HSS instance) and whichsubscriber requested resources are available on each virtual machine,etc.

The high availability component 705 also comprises a communicationsystem 800 for sending out requests for acknowledgements that aprocessing node (or each virtual machine) is functioning on the network.The communicating system 800 may comprise a network IP address ‘ping’function which informs the communicating means whether the processingnode or virtual machine is operational. An updating system 805 updatesthe communication response in the network model. The communicationsystem is initiated in a time frame stated by the network administrator.This communication response is updated into the network model. In theevent that a processing node does not respond a failure recovery planfunction is initiated by a recovery function 805. The failure recoveryplan is based on three types of backup plans:

-   -   Hot recovery    -   Warm recovery    -   Cold recovery

A hot recovery plan is where an alternative processing node is equippedwith resources to recover the functions of another processing nodeaffected by the failure of the processing node. This would, for example,mean that another processing node, associated with the network, iswaiting in standby mode and mirrored the application resources. Forexample, resources such as the corresponding number of virtual machineseach running a control state function instance, a home subscriberservice instance and a radio network control function instance (in thecase of an embodiment of FIG. 5), any other application which providerequested services, etc., and wherein appropriate data is constantlybeing backed up to the alternative processing node as the data iswritten to the first processing node (i.e., the processing node affectedby failure). In this example, in the event of failure, the switch overfrom a failed processing node to backup processing node isinstantaneous.

A warm recovery plan is when an alternative processing node is runningbut does not keep in synchronization with the failed processing node andwhich is able to take over in the event of failure. In this case theremay be a delay to establish the state of the failed processing node orsome processing functions may be interrupted.

A cold recovery plan is one where a backup processing node is notrunning and must be started. In this case there maybe a delay to startthe processing node and a further delay to establish the state of thefailed processing or some processing functions may be interrupted.

The high availability component 705 is also able to detect patterns inprocessing needs from subscribers. For example, by analyzing pasthistorical activity of processing nodes and analyzing activity fromgeographical areas associated with subscriber requests it is possible to‘stand down’ processing nodes or one or more virtual machines operableon a processing node when the processing node is not required. Further,it is possible to transfer requests for resources to other processingnodes and ‘stand down’ a processing node when the network traffic to aprocessing node is determined to be at a minimal i.e. below a predefinednetwork traffic threshold. Thus the high availability component is alsoable to perform load balancing based on geographical analysis ofsubscriber requests for resources.

It will be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that all or part ofthe method of the embodiments of the present invention may suitably andusefully be embodied in a logic apparatus, or a plurality of logicapparatus, comprising logic elements arranged to perform the steps ofthe method and that such logic elements may comprise hardwarecomponents, firmware components or a combination thereof.

FIG. 9 shows a computing device 900 which is operable for runningapplication implemented in software. The computing device has a centralprocessing unit 901 with primary storage in the form of memory 102 (RAMand ROM). The memory 902 stores program information and data acted on orcreated by application programs. The program information includes theoperating system code for the computing device 900 and application codefor applications running on the computing device 900.

Secondary storage includes optical disk storage 903 and magnetic diskstorage 904. Data and program information can also be stored andaccessed from the secondary storage.

The computing device 900 includes a network connection means 905 forinterfacing the computing device 900 to a network such as a local areanetwork (LAN) or any type of IP based network. The computing device 100may also have other external source communication means such as a faxmodem or telephone connection.

The central processing unit 901 comprises inputs in the form of, asexamples, a keyboard 906, a mouse 907, voice input 908, and a scanner909 for inputting text, images, graphics or the like. Outputs from thecentral processing unit 901 may include a display means 910, a printer911, sound output 912, video output 913, etc.

Applications may run on the computer device 900 from a storage means903, 904 or via a network connection 905, which may include databaseapplications, etc. A computing device is not limited to any type of dataprocessing system or apparatus, and may be a conventional server orother data processing device, which is capable of running applications.

It will be equally clear to one of skill in the art that all or part ofa logic arrangement according to embodiments of the present inventionmay suitably be embodied in a logic apparatus comprising logic elementsto perform the steps of the method, and that such logic elements maycomprise components such as logic gates in, for example a programmablelogic array or application-specific integrated circuit. Such a logicarrangement may further be embodied in enabling elements for temporarilyor permanently establishing logic structures in such an array or circuitusing, for example, a virtual hardware descriptor language, which may bestored and transmitted using fixed or transmittable carrier media.

It will be appreciated that the method and arrangement described abovemay also suitably be carried out fully or partially in software runningon one or more processors (not shown in the figures), and that thesoftware may be provided in the form of one or more computer programelements carried on any suitable storage medium (also not shown in thefigures) such as a magnetic or optical disk or the like. Channels forthe transmission of data may likewise comprise storage media of alldescriptions as well as signal-carrying media, such as wired or wirelesssignal-carrying media.

A method is generally conceived to be a self-consistent sequence ofsteps leading to a desired result. These steps require physicalmanipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily,these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capableof being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwisemanipulated. It is convenient at times, principally for reasons ofcommon usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, parameters,items, elements, objects, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or thelike. It should be noted, however, that all of these terms and similarterms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities andare merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

The present invention may further suitably be embodied as a computerprogram product for use with a computer system. Such an implementationmay comprise a series of computer-readable instructions either fixed ona tangible medium, such as a computer readable medium, for example,diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, or hard disk, or transmittable to a computersystem, via a modem or other interface device, over either a tangiblemedium, including but not limited to optical or analogue communicationslines, or intangibly using wireless techniques, including but notlimited to microwave, infrared or other transmission techniques. Theseries of computer readable instructions embodies all or part of thefunctionality previously described herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such computer readableinstructions can be written in a number of programming languages for usewith many computer architectures or operating systems. Further, suchinstructions may be stored using any memory technology, present orfuture, including but not limited to, semiconductor, magnetic, oroptical, or transmitted using any communications technology, present orfuture, including but not limited to optical, infrared, or microwave. Itis contemplated that such a computer program product may be distributedas a removable medium with accompanying printed or electronicdocumentation, for example, shrink-wrapped software, pre-loaded with acomputer system, for example, on a system ROM or fixed disk, ordistributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over a network,for example, the Internet or World Wide Web.

In one alternative, embodiments of the present invention may be realizedin the form of a computer implemented method of deploying a servicecomprising steps of deploying computer program code operable to, whendeployed into a computer infrastructure and executed thereon, causes thecomputer system to perform all the steps of the method.

In a further alternative, embodiments of the present invention may berealized in the form of data carrier having functional data thereon, thefunctional data comprising functional computer data structures to, whenloaded into a computer system and operated upon thereby, enable thecomputer system to perform all the steps of the method.

It will be clear to one skilled in the art that many improvements andmodifications can be made to the foregoing exemplary embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of communicating atelecommunication request initiated by a subscriber in atelecommunication network, the method comprising: receiving a requestfor a voice or data communication by a radio access network; andcommunicating the received request to a network switching subsystem forprocessing by a demand-driven, dynamically-configurable IP basedcomputing infrastructure, wherein the network switching subsystemcomprises a plurality of processing nodes, each processing nodecomprising a software instance of a network switching function, andwherein the network switching function comprises: an instance of a callsession control function, a radio control function, and a homesubscriber service database for processing requests for communicationservices from subscribers; and provisioning a request for eachsubscriber to join the telecommunication network; sending requests foreach processing node to send a functional acknowledgement; detecting,using a high availability component in each processing node, a failureof one of the processing nodes; in response to the detection of thefailed processing node, searching for and locating an alternativeprocessing node from the plurality of processing nodes as a substitutefor the detected failed processing node; monitoring operating parametersof each processing node using the high availability component;analyzing, using the high availability component, geographicalinformation associated with subscriber requests for resources andnetwork traffic information associated with each processing node;detecting in response to the analyzing a pattern for the plurality ofcloud-based processing nodes of past activity and geographical area; anddetermining whether at least one of the processing nodes can be powereddown because of a minimal amount of network traffic being detected. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising: processing communicationrequests from subscribers using a base station controller functionassociated with the network switching subsystem.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the IP based computing infrastructure is a high bandwidth andhigh availability network.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the highavailability component further comprises an in-memory map of thetelecommunication network comprising the operational status of eachprocessing node associated with the telecommunication network.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising implementing, using the highavailability component, a recovery failure plan in the event that one ofthe processing nodes is detected as no longer being operational.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the recovery plan comprises having aplurality of processing nodes in a standby mode, which are accessiblevia the IP based network such that in the event that one of theprocessing nodes is detected as being no longer operational one of theplurality of processing nodes is able to perform the functions of thefailed processing node.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving a request from a subscriber's mobile phone for accessing an IPbased resource associated with a third party IP based network, andtransmitting a request comprising one or more IP packets from the mobilephone device through a base transceiver station to an IP based networkof a service provider who is hosting the requested resource.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein, if the request for a resource furthercomprises requests for telecommunication specific services,instantiating a request through an API of a service provider's IP basednetwork in order to communicate a request to a call session controlfunction in the telecommunication network.